Twitch and FACEIT launch eSports Championship Series

First professional eSports league to offer teams co-ownership

Twitch has partnered with online multiplayer platform FACEIT to launch the eSports Championship Series, the first professional eSports league to offer teams co-ownership.

"A major part of Twitch's success is built around our relationship with the eSports community, from the players and organizations who have made it a leading form of entertainment, to our own staff with deep roots in the scene," said Twitch's Stuart Saw, director of eSports strategy.

"We've listened to what the teams and players are looking for, which is to have a bigger voice in the movement, and it inspired us to partner with FACEIT to launch the ECS. This will mark a significant and welcome change to the sport, and will lead to a wider impact across the industry."

10 teams from North America and 10 from Europe will make up the ECS and the initiative's first Counter-Strike tournament takes place today with a $3.5 million prize fund.

"Players and teams are the heart of the eSports community and deserve the opportunity to reap the rewards of their hard work and dedication to grow eSports into a mainstream phenomenon," added Michele Attisani, co-founder of FACEIT.

"We make the community our first priority and as such, we're excited to support the first eSports league that positions teams as co-owners."

FACEIT also plans to nurture new talent in a development league, and will reveal more about this soon.

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